Christian O. Aleke*, Lois N. Omaka-Amari, Eunice N. Afoke, Henry Ikechukwu Imah, Ifeyinwa Maureen Okeke, Nwajioha Patrck Nwite, Tyogbah Jacob Terungwa, Akamu L. Nworie, Chinedu Nweke Idakari, OkochaYusuf Item, Michael Joseph Anyaeru, Onyechi Nwankwo and John Donald Nweze
The COVID 19 outbreak which started in the Hubei province of China in December 2019 has assumed the new acme of life-threatening infection ravaging all countries in the world today. In Nigeria, attention has not been paid to understand factors that associated with the outbreak and initial spread of the virus which made containment difficult. This study aimed at exploring the factors associated with the spread of Covid-19 in Nigeria and way forward for future epidemic preparedness. Data for the study were generated through an electronic literature search in PubMed/Medline, Google, Google Scholar, Scopus database, magazines, Newspapers, and grey literature focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic. The trends of the spread were assessed using graphs and bar charts. Factors such as Nigeria weak health system, porous border, lack of isolation centers, misinformation, conspiracy theory among others with its association to spread and containment challenges of COVID-19 were discussed. The study further presented its implications for future epidemic preparedness. Thus emphasizes the urgent need for Nigerian government to adequately equip health sector, properly kits health workers and equally establish isolation centers across the 36 states of the country. Also ensure better protection of trans-border migrations to eliminate further spread and contain future outbreak since all these viruses are been imported into the country.
